Traffic signal



R. BLESSO TRAFFIC S IGNAL Oct. 28, 1930.

Filed Oct. 15. 1929 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Zlmtoz mm Jam R. BLESSO TRAFFIC S IGNAL Oct. 28, 1930.

s $heets-Sheet 3 Filed Oct. 15. 1929 iikmw gwuentoa: Rocco 31mm Patented Oct. 28, 1930 PATENT OFFICE ROCCO BLESSO, OI HARTFORD, CONNEGTICU'I.

TRAFFIC SIGNAL Application filed October 15, 1929. Serial No. 399,785.

The present invention relates to improvements in trafiic signals or semaphores for use in directing street traflic, and the invention has as its aim to provide an improved device constructed and arranged for effectively giving clearly visible signals in the daytime and night to traflic, and for casting illumination onto the oflicer or operator so as to protect,

the latter against accidents.

.In accordance with the present invention, my improved signal is provided with word legends, such as Stop and Go, and with light signals, such as green lights and red lights, respectively associated with the Go and Stop legends, the source of light for the colored signals being employed to light up the word signals and also to cast light upon the operator or officer who may be directing traific.

A further aim of the invention is to provide a structure of this sort which is very simple in construction, which may be cheaply made, and which is relatively small and compact. My improved device may be positioned between street car lines so that the cars on opposite tracks may pass one another without interference with the signal when the latter is in go position. While the device is small and compact, the signals are so arranged that no confusion is likely to result as, in one position, only the go signals may be observed from a given position and, when the device is in the other or stop position, only the stop signals may be observed.

' A further aim of the invention is to provide a signal device of this sort which is light in weight, which is readily portable, and which may be quickly detached so that the operator, in case of emergency, may very quickly and readily, with slight effort, move the device out of the street where it is out of the way.

Other objectswill be in part obvious and in part pointed out more in detail.

The invention accordingly consists in the features of construction, combination of elements and arrangement of parts which will be exemplified in the construction herein- 50 after setforth and the scope. of the application'of which will be indicated in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings, wherein I have shown one of the many embodiments which the present invention may take:

Figure 1 is a side elevational view of my improved signal;

Fig. 2 is an end view thereof;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged side view of the signal device per se; Fig. 4 is a top plan view thereof with the sliding cover or lid removed;

Fig. 5 is a top plan view of the cover;

Fig. 6 is a transverse sectional view taken substantially on line 66 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 7 is a view, partly in elevation and partly in section, showing an electric outlet and associated plug; and

- Fig. 8 is a view similar to Fig. 7 but showing the plug removed and a cover in place.

Referring to the drawings in detail, and particularly to Figs. 1 and 2, 10 is a base which is preferably circular'so that, when the device is inclined, one edge of the base rides upon the pavement, thus permitting the device to be rolled to and from position. This base is preferably hollow and has a door 11 through which access may be had to the electrical plug or connections hereinafter described more in detail. Arising centrally from the base is a standard or pipe 12 upon the upper end of which is a sleeve 13 having four teeth or serrations 13' at its upper end. Rotatably mounted in the pipe 12 is a hollow pipe or stem 14, the upper end of which carries the signal device. A sleeve 18 is fixed to the depending stem 14 in any suitable manner as by means of the set screw 15, and extending horizontally from this sleeve is a handle 16 by means of which the sleeve, the stem 14 and the signal device may be turned. The sleeve 18 has four teeth or serrations 18 complementary to, and adapted to cooperate with, the teeth 13' for locating the signal in stop and go positions.

Secured to the upper end of the pipe or stem 14 is a sign element in the form of a plate 20 which bears, on its opposite faces, suitable legends, such as the word Stop. This plate, in the present instance, is made from sheet metal bent over on itself along a medial line, as shown most clearly in Fig. 6. The plate, between its ends, has semi-circular bosses 21 which form a socket which receives the upper end of the pipe 14. The stop plate is secured to the pipe or stem 14 in any suitablemanner as by means of screws 22. At the opposite ends of the stop plate are sign elements, each in the form of a fiat plate 23 having, on its outer face, a suitable legend such as the word Go. These go plates are disposed transversely to the stop plate and extend to like distances at each side of the stop plate. In the present illustrative disclosure, the plates 23 are secured by means of rivets or the like to flanges 24 on the ends of the stop plate 20.

-Mounted upon the sign, comprising the plates 20 and 23, is a casing or housing for containing the illuminating devices, such as lamps. This housing, in the present instance, has a body portion of generally rectangular form and provided with side walls 30 and end walls 31. The casing, at each end, extends beyond the go plates 23 and the casing, in width, is substantially as wide as these plates. The casing has a bottom provided by the inclined portions 32, the lower edges of which are disposed on opposite sides of the stop plate and secured thereto by rivets 33 or the like. The overhanging end portions of the casing are devoid of bottoms and are provided with depending shades or hoods 34 which are so disposed that the lights within the casing are adapted to illuminate the go signs. The casing, between its ends and at each side, is provided with hoods 35 which are so disposed as to reflect the light rays from the lamps within the casing onto the stop legends. By preference, the body portion of the casing, including the side walls 30 and the end walls 31, the bottom portions 32 and the end hoods 34, are all made from a single sheet of metal cut to the desired configuration and then bent to the shape shown. The hoods 34 and 35 are flared outwardly so as to permit the light from within the casing to be thrown onto the operator and onto the pavement about the base or pedestal of the apparatus. Within the casing are disposed suitable illuminating means, such as electric lamps 40. These lamps may be screwed into sockets 41 fixed to suitable brackets 42. The electric light wires leading to these lamps are adapted to pass through the base, the pipes 12 and 14, and into the casing, only a portion of the wires being shown as their connections will be obvious.

The casing has, at each of its ends, an opening, and these openings are adapted to receive windows or lenses 43 of transparent or semi-transparent material, such as glass, of a suitable color, for example green. Each side wall of the casing is provided, at its intermediate part, with an opening, and in these openings are positioned windows or lenses 44 of glass or the like of suitable color, for example red, so as to indicate danger. lit will be observed that the lenses, which are green or other color to indicate safety, are associated with the go signs, while the red lenses are associated with the stop signs. In the present instance, I have shown an electric lamp at each end of the casing and two lamps at the intermediate portion of the casing, but it is to be understood that these lamps may be arranged as desired, the particular arrangement shown being found to effect good results in the way of lighting the lenses, the signs and the operator.

In order that access may be readily had to the interior of the casing, the casing is provided with a removable top having a slide 50 and a hood 51. The slide, which is in the form of a plate or sheet metal, has its edges bent over to form grooves which are adapted to slidably receive flanges 52 formed by bending outwardly the upper edges of the side walls 30, as will be clear from Figs. 4 and 6. The slide has openings 53 for permitting the heat to escape from the casing, and in order to prevent the light, which passes through these openings, from confusing trailie, the hood 51 is provided. This hood is a generally U-shaped member extending longitudinally of the slide and open at its opposite ends. Adjacent each end of the hood and within the same is a baffle 54 in the form of a pipe so that no light can get out of the end of the hood and confuse trafiic.

The electricity forthe lights or lamps 40 may be obtained from ny suitable source, such as storage batteries, concealed within the base or from a central station. By preference, however, the arrangement is such that the electrical connections can be very quickly made and broken so as to add to the convenience of the device. To this end, there is provided, on the lower end of the wires leading from the lamps down through the standard and into the base, a quick detachable plug 61 (see Fig. 7), and in the street and below the surface of the pavement there is provided an outlet box. The outlet box has a pipe-like casing 62 provided with an enlarged upper end 63 having, on its interior wall, inclined ribs 64 which constitute cams. Located within the casing is a receptacle 65 which may be of the standard three-point or terminal construction. This receptacle may be connected to a brace plate 66 supported upon the shoulder at the lower end of the enlarged portion 63; Slidably mounted on the lower end of the cable or wires 60 is a service cover 67 having a depending skirt portion 68 adapted to extend into the upper end of the casing 62. On the external periphery of this skirt are inclined ribs 69 constituting cams which are complementary to the cams 64 and adapted to eo operate therewith. The service cover has a flange 7 O beneath which is a gasket or packing 71'. I

When the si nalling apparatus has been removed, it is esirable to close the outlet in can get intothe outlet. In Figs. 7 and 8, the

surface of the street is indicated by the numeral 79.

When it is desired to set up the apparatus in the middle of the street and over the outlet plug, it is merely necessary for the operator to tilt the apparatus and then, while in tilted osition, roll it over to the outlet in the mid le of the street. The cover of the outlet is easily removed by placing a polygonal wrench in the recess of that cover and then' giving the cover a partial turn so as to disengage the ribs 77 from the ribs 64 whereupon the cover can be lifted out. It will be observed that this may be very readily and quickly done. Then the apparatus is moved to a position where the.

base 10 thereof is over the outlet. By putting the hand through the opening closed by the door 11, the operator may quickly push the plug 61 into the receptacle 65 and he may then secure the service cover 67 in place by inserting the skirt of the cover into the casing 63 and giving the cover a partial turn so' as to engage the ribs 69below the ribs 64. When these ribs are properly engaged, sleet, water and the like cannot find access into the outlet. The apparatus is now in position for directing traflic, and the manner in which this is done will be obvious from the foregoing description. When itis desired to remove the apparatus, this may be quickly done, which is a feature of importance, particularly in cases of emergency, as Where it is desired to clear the street for fire apparatus. To remove the apparatus, it is merely necessary to detach the service cover 67, pull out the plu 61, insert the outlet cover 75, and then r0 1 the apparatus out of the street. All of this requires but a very short time, possibly a minute.

As many changes could be made in the above construction and many apparently widely diflerent embodiments of this invention could be made without departing from the scope thereof, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawing shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

It is also to be understood that the language used in the following, claims is intended to cover all of the generic and specific features of the invention herein described and all statements of the scope of the invention which, as a matter of language,

might be said to fall therebetween.

claim as my invention: 1

1. In a signalling ap aratus of theIcharacter described, a slgn aving a Stop plate with legends on its opposite sides and transverse Go plates at its ends, a casing mounted upon and extending longitudinally of said Stop plate and beyond said Go plates, said casing havin openings in its bottom located beyond said 0 plates and centrally of and to each side of said Stop plate, and light means Within said casing for llluminating said Stop and Go plates.

2. In a signalling apparatus of the character described, a sign having a Stop plate with stop legends on its opposite sides and Go plates secured to the ends'of the Stop plate and extendin to each side thereof, an elongated rectangu ar casing mounted upon said sign with 1ts medial line above said Stop plate and with its ends extending begond said Go plates, said casing having a ottom wall with openings at its ends beyond said Go plates and a central opening, said casing also having hoods extending downwardly from said openings, light means within said casing, and means for rotatably supporting said signal.

3. In a signalling apparatus of the character described, a sign having legends on its opposite sides and its opposite ends, a casing located upon said sign and having in its opposite ends transparent colored windows or lenses, said casing having in each of its sides a window of a color to contrast with said end windows, and light means within said casing adapted to illuminate said windows and said legends.

4. In a signalling apparatus of the character described, a sign having Stop legends on its sides and Go legends on its ends,- a casing upon said sign and extending beyond the ends thereof and to each side of said Stop legends, said casing having on its ends windows and in each of its sides windows contrasting in color to the end windows, light means within said casing for illuminating said windows and legends, means for refleeting the light from said means onto said legends, and means for rotatably supporting the signal.

5. In a signalling apparatus of the character described, a sign having a Stop plate provided with Stop legends on (each of its faces, said sign having end plates transversely disposed to said Stop plate and extending to each side thereof and bearing Go legends, a casing upon said sign and extending beyond the ends thereof, said casing having in its ends windows of a color to denote safety, said casing having in each of its sides a window of a color to indicate danger, and light means within said casing for illuminating said windows and legends.

6. in a signalling apparatus of the character described, a sign having a Stop plate with Stop legends on its opposite faces and having Go plates at the ends of the Stop plate and extending transversely of and beyond the sides thereof, an elongated rectangular casing upon said sign with its medial line registering with said Stop plate and extending beyond said Go plates. said casing having in its bottom wall an opening at each end and an intermediate opening, downwardly extendin shades at said openings, windows in the opposite ends of said casing of a color to indicate safety, Windows in the sides of said casing of a color to indicate danger, and light means within said casing.

7. In a signalling apparatus of the character described, a circular base, a standard arising therefrom, a rotatable member carried by said standard, a sign fixed to the upper end of said rotatable member and having a Stop plate and Go plates at the ends of the Stop plate, a casing on top of said sign having windows at each side and at its ends, and light means within said casing for illuminating said windows and sign.

8. in a signalling apparatus of the character described, a Stop plate and Go plates at each end of the Stop plate, an elongated rectangular casing positioned upon and extending longitudinally of the Stop plate and beyond the Go plates, colored windows in the ends and sides of said casing, light means in said casing, the bottom of said casing having openings through which said light means may illuminate said plates, and a removable sliding cover for said casing.

9. In a signalling apparatus of the character described. a Stop plate and Go plates at each end of the Stop plate, an elongated rec tan gular casing positioned upon and extending longitudinally of the Stop plate and beyond the Go plates, colored windows in the ends and sides of said casing, light means in said casing, the bottom of said casing having openings through which said light means may illuminate said plates, and a removable sliding cover for said casing, said cover having ventilating openings and a hood over said openings.

10. In a signalling apparatus of the character described, a sign having trafiic legends on its sides and trafiic legends at its ends, a casing mounted upon said sign and extending beyond the ends thereof and to each side of the side legends, and light means Within said casing, said casing having openings in its bot tom wall forwardly of the planes of said legends whereby said light means may illuminate said legends.

11. In a signalling device of the character described, an elongated sign having trailic legends on its sides and trafiic legends at its ends, an elongated casing mounted upon said sign and overhanging the ends and the sides thereof, the overhanging portions of said sign having openings in their bottom portions, light means within said casing and arranged to cast their rays through said openings onto said legends whereby to illuminate the same, and a rotatable support for said signal.

12. In a signalling device of the character described, a sign having a longitudinally extending portion with trafiic legends on its opposite sides and end faces extending laterally beyond said longitudinally extending portion and having trafiiclegends, a casing mounted upon said sign and having overhanging portions extending beyond the ends thereof and at each side of said longitudinally extending portion, light means Within said casing, and a base above which said sign is supported, said casing having downwardly directed openings in said overhanging portions arranged so that said light means may illuminate said legends and a substantial area about said base.

ROCCO BLESSO. 

